Fourteen special businesses, organisation and individuals have been recognised for their work helping to make Newcastle-under-Lyme a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work and visit.
Winners of the LoveNUL Business Awards 2026 were announced at a ceremony held at St Giles Church on Friday evening.
Organisers Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District (BID) received more than 500 nominations, and around 4,000 public votes as residents showed their support for their favourites.
The full list of winners is:
| Beauty & Wellbeing Business of the Year Funeral of Hearts Tattoo Studio | Business Services of the Year Limelight Marketing Communications | Café & Coffee Shop of the Year No. 21 Cafe and Sandwich Bar |
| Customer Service of the Year Kevin Lownds Funeral Services | Hospitality Venue of the Year Breeze Bowls | Pub, Beer & Ale Venue of the Year Mellards Bar |
| Retailer of the Year Tony Price Butchers | New Business of the Year EM Beauty Clinic | Market & Event Trader of the Year Backyard Burgers |
| Visitor Attraction of the Year New Vic Theatre | Community Connector Castle Creatives | Newcastle Ambassador of the Year Elise Turner |
| Unsung Hero of the Year King Street Congregational Church Foodbank | Lifetime Achievement Jim Worgan |
Local historian Jim Worgan, who has also been awarded the Freedom of the Borough, has helped preserve and share the town’s heritage, alongside his involvement in Britain in Bloom and his commitment to the community.
BID Manage Charl Pearce said: “Behind every nomination is someone who has noticed the care, hard work or kindness of a local business or individual. Reading those stories is one of the most rewarding parts of organising these awards and it was wonderful to bring 170 people together at St Giles to celebrate that contribution.
“From established family businesses to newer ventures and the people working quietly behind the scenes, our winners and finalists give us so much to be proud of.”
Co-Chair Nigel Davies added: “These awards show the breadth of talent and commitment we have in Newcastle. Our businesses provide personal service, create jobs and give people reasons to visit, while our community organisations and local champions make a difference to people’s lives every day.
“Congratulations to all our winners and finalists. We hope the awards encourage people to discover somewhere new, revisit a favourite and continue supporting Newcastle’s businesses throughout the year.”
The fourth annual awards were supported by organisations including headline sponsor Keele University, whose Vice-Chancellor Professor Kevin Shakesheff’s #ShopLocal2026 initiative encourages students, staff and the wider community to discover independent businesses and spend more locally.
